GoldenCityGuides Staff Bios
GoldenCityGuides' staff proudly boasts a genuine passion for
travel coupled with a strong background in the travel industry.
With more than 120 years of combined experience. GoldenCityGuides'
staff is sure to have the answers and personal insight to help
with all of your travel planning needs. Our company currently
employs just less than 20 employees, including a number of Certified
Official Pennsylvania Specialists, Vail Specialists, Florida
Specialists, Caribbean Specialists, and Cruise Specialists.
RICK GOLDEN
PRESIDENT/CEO
RGolden@GoldenTravelGuides.com
Rick is most well-known by friends and colleagues as an expert
in the travel industry. He has traveled the United States, Mexico,
and the Caribbean, and is well-versed in the ways of travel
to these areas. He particularly likes the Naples, Key West and
the St Petersburg areas of Florida, NahOrlins, skiing (Arapahoe
Basin, his favorite, well... and of course Camelback), the beach
at Treasure Cay, and can't wait for his next trip to Maine for
fresh lobster on the dock. GoldenTravelGuides was created by
Rick to help friends find information about the "Best of"
a destination and has evolved into one of the fastest growing
travel companies in the United States. He has, of late, visited
New
York, Philly, Atlantic City, Naples, Sanibel, Captiva, Key
West, Chitzen Itza, Montreal, Toronto, Lake George, Fort Wayne,
Springfield MO, Hilton Head, Wrightsville Beach, Sandusky OH,
Washington DC, New Orleans, Vail, Dallas, Knoxville, Boston,
Paradise Island, Wilmington NC, Orlando, The Catskills, The
Hamptons, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Acapulco, Cancun, Los Angeles,
Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Denver, Fort Myers, Abaco and The
Poconos. Rick is pictured above in Cancun and with The US Ambassador
to Estonia - Joe DeThomas.
NICOLE
VICE PRESIDENT
npalmer@GoldenTravelGuides.com
Nicole is the business foundation of GoldenTravelGuides. She
started with CEO, Rick Golden, before the concept of GoldenTravelGuides
was even fully formulated. Nicole takes great pride in being
at the heart of something that, with hard-work and dedication,
has come so far. As an integral player in the founding and development
of GoldenTravelGuides, Nicole looks forward to continued growth
and "truly great things in the future." With a degree
in accounting, Nicole handles everything green at GoldenTravelGuides.
A native New Yorker, Nicole spent 8 years in the restaurant
management business prior to getting her start with GoldenTravelGuides.
Her transition from the restaurant business to the travel and
tourism business was a natural one.
Nicole specializes in family travel. She has assisted countless
families (including her own) in coordinating well-organized,
educational, and fun-filled vacations. A mother of three, Nicole's
true specialty is multi-tasking!
One of her favorite travel memories was a year-long trip she
took to Disney World in Orlando! If you are looking to take
a trip to Disney, Nicole is the best person to talk to. She
will guide you through all of the best places to stay, shop,
tour, and eat while there. After a one-year Disney Internship,
and completion of a business training program, Nicole received
her much-coveted 'Mousters' degree. She has also traveled throughout
the Pocono Mountains, Catskill Mountains, Naples, and countless
other magnificent destinations across our globe.
GAIL
GOLF TRAVEL SPECIALIST
With GoldenTravelGuides since 2001, Gail is the "glue"
that holds the reservations floor together at GoldenTravelGuides.
She keeps all of the travel specialists motivated and up-to-date
on the latest and greatest vacation deals throughout the country.
Gail's greatest passion/addiction is golfing! She is an avid
golfer, and is looking forward to continuing to develop golf
tours for GoldenTravelGuides to various destinations throughout
the United States. She has teed off at every golf course in
the Pocono Mountains and the Catskills, as well as a wide array
of golf courses throughout her 20 years of residing in Florida.
If you are looking to plan a spectacular, one-of-a-kind golf
outing, you need to speak with Gail, our friendly knowledgeable
golf professional. She can recommend the best courses to play
and the best places to stay, as well as dining and entertainment
that will make your golf vacation memorable.
A native of the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Gail knows the
region inside and out. If there is anything at all that you
need to know to make your stay here more pleasurable, Gail can
fill you in on all of the area's best kept secrets.
SYLVIA
GROUP SALES DIRECTOR/RESERVATION SPECIALIST
sylviak@goldentravelguides.com
In the spring of 2002, GoldenTravelGuides hired Sylvia to bring
their Group Sales Department to the next level. A Certified
Travel Agent with an Associates Degree in Business Management,
she specializes in group travel, particularly within the Mid-Atlantic
States, the Caribbean, New England, Las Vegas, and Florida.
A native of Lac Etchemin, Quebec Canada, and Winslow, Maine.
Sylvia is fluent in French, and has a number of great memories
that she would be more than happy to share with you.
Her most noteworthy life experience was of her childhood growing
up in Belgrade Lakes Maine, the inspiration for the classic
movie, On Golden Pond. Sylvia can recollect many of the people
and places written about as it took place during the time that
she resided there. One of her favorite pastimes has always been
waterskiing on Belgrade Lakes (or any other body of water for
that matter).
New York City, Coco Beach, Orlando, Naples, Philadelphia, and
many International locations and cruises are just some of the
other interesting places that she has visited. She has traveled
to more than half of the States in the United States including
all of the New England States, and six of the Canadian Provinces,
all East of Manitoba. Sylvia has conducted hotel inspections
throughout the country during her nine year career in the travel
field. One of her most memorable vacations was of the two months
that she spent living on the Island of Newfoundland in Canada.
In her spare time, Sylvia enjoys scrapbooking and geneology.
If group travel is your idea of a great vacation, please contact
Sylvia; she is our resident expert.
EDYTA
INVENTORY CONTROL SPECIALIST
Best known by her friends and family for her love of music,
Edyta, a native of Poland moved to the United States in 1984.
Edyta started with GoldenTravelGuides in the fall of 2002; she
brought with her an in-depth knowledge of the Pocono Mountains
resort industry, along with formal training in the travel and
tourism industry.
With GoldenTravelGuides, she specializes in Naples, FL, Atlantic
City, NJ, and the Pocono Mountains of PA. Her knowledge of the
accommodations, the people, and the attractions in these areas,
combined with her enthusiasm for travel make Edyta a wonderful
travel planner. We are sure you will be delighted to speak with
her. She has visited Ohio, California, Florida, St. Thomas,
St. Martin, Puerto Rico, and has even lived in Louisiana. If
you are looking for a friendly travel agent who speaks Polish,
than look no further! This summer, Edyta plans to travel to
sunny Jamaica for her honeymoon.
CHARLIE
ELECTRONIC MARKETING/OFFICE OPERATIONS
canzman@goldentravelguides.com
A native of Long Island, NY, Charlie and his family relocated
to the beautiful Pocono Mountains in 1995. He joined GoldenTravelGuides
in 2003, bringing with him an in-depth knowledge of the travel
industry. His travel experience spans a ten year career in the
industry and he has been working in the computer field, which
is his first love, with numerous professional certifications,
for more than 23 years.
Charlie's specialty at GoldenTravelGuides is coordinating vacations
in the scenic Pocono Mountains, most specifically, romantic
couples' getaways and family outings. He is also our resident
Florida expert, having traveled to Orlando, Tampa, Clearwater,
Miami, West Palm Beach, and several other locations throughout
the state. If you are interested in learning more about Indianapolis,
Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Aruba, or New Orleans, Charlie will
be more than happy to give you an insider's point of view.
His free time is spent with family, keeping up with the newest
technology trends, amateur radio, and monitoring the weather.
Charlie has also been very involved in the community volunteering
for a number of local organizations including the school districts
and the Chamber of Commerce.
ELAINE
TRAVEL SPECIALIST/SALES & MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE
elainel@goldentravelguides.com
Elaine is a vibrant personality that you will sure to be delighted
to speak with. A long time resident of Central Pennsylvania,
and graduate of Penn State University, Elaine joined GoldenTravelGuides
in the fall of 2003. She is an expert on travel all throughout
our great state of Pennsylvania, particularly Lancaster, Hershey,
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Pocono Mountains. One of her
favorite Pennsylvania memories is when she was auctioned off
at the Wench Auction at the PA Renaissance Faire. As an avid
historic traveler, Elaine has visited the Civil War cities in
PA, VA, WV, and MD. Her travels throughout the rest of the United
States have taken her to Cape Cod (one of her very favorite
vacation spots), every state in New England, New York City,
Washington, D.C., Cape May, West Palm Beach, Orlando, and Ann
Arbor, Michigan, where she frequents quite regularly. Her love
of gardening keeps her busy during the warmer months. She also
volunteers at the local elementary school and is a member of
the Friends of Eastern Monroe Public Library.
Elaine has also traveled to England and Ireland. One of her
most memorable trips was when she traveled with a tour group
to London and had the amazing opportunity to photograph Princess
Diana coming out of London's Royal Opera House. She received
a tip from her hotel that the Princess would be there and wasn't
sure quite what to expect. One of the first on the scene, followed
later by swarms of paparazzi, Elaine took some once in a lifetime
photos of one of the world's most renowned sweethearts! While
in Ireland, Elaine fondly remembers kissing the famous Blarney
Stone in Blarney Castle.
JESSICA
MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR
jessicam@GoldenTravelGuides.com
A graduate of Stockton State College with a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Marketing, Jessica brought her six years of experience
in the travel and tourism industry to GoldenTravelGuides in
the spring of 2004. She has worked on marketing, advertising,
and/or public relations campaigns for resorts, hotels, spas,
and casinos throughout the 48 Continental United States and
Mexico. Over the years, she has attended numerous expos, seminars,
and conferences in the travel and tourism industry.
Jessica's passion is traveling (other than cats, that is).
Some of her favorite vacation destinations she has visited include
Newport, RI, Myrtle Beach, San Francisco, Punta Cana, D.R.,
Cancun, and many locations throughout Florida. Closer to home,
she holds a great fondness for the Catskill and Adirondack Regions
of New York, and the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Jessica
enjoys hiking and photographing some of the spectacular scenery
and abundant wildlife throughout the beaches and mountains of
the beautiful East Coast. This summer she plans to tour the
rugged beauty and tranquility of the coast of Maine in Acadia
National Park, the Thousand Islands region of NY, and Niagara
Falls. Her favorite things to do in her spare time are scrapbooking,
spending time with family, and running. She is a gymnastics
teacher for a dance studio, and also coaches in the local school
district.
